Fastener for crates



Nov. 20, 1928.

J. O. TURNER FASTENER FOR CRATES 7 Filed Aug. 10, 1926 Jspfi 0- Tar/eel,"

Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES A 1,692,596. PATENT car es.

JOSEPH 0. TURNER, 0F WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA, AssIenoR 'ro MENGEL COMPANY, on LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

FASTENER FOR onA'rns.

Application filed August 10, 1926 Serial No. 128,453.

This invention appertains to improvements in crates, and relates more particularly to a stay or fastener adapted to be used in locking rack-strips or slats to the sides of a crate.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of brace or fastener which is so constructed that it will fit over the rack-strip and the-side of the crate, and at the same time grip both members and thus prevent the sides ofthe crate from bulging. tions form the strengthening OIIBlIlfOlCiIlg means of a crate, it is extremely desirable that they be securely fastened to ,thesides and the present fastener is designed to form a strong and rigid connection between these members as well as to prevent the bulging action just mentioned.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a plan View of my improved fastener as it is struck from a piece of metal;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the fastening means bent to the form which it ultimately assumes when fully positioned;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of an ordlnary bottle crate with my fastening means applied thereto;

Fig. 4 is a Vertical section of the joint'as indicated by the IV IV lineof Fig.5;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the joint as indicated by the V-V line of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 6 is another vertical section of the joint taken on the VIVI line of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of my fastener which is also bent to its ultimate shape.

The fastener designated generally by 1 is preferably stamped from a piece of sheet metal as shown inFig. 1,and assumes in this form the outline of a T. r The main or body portion 2, has oppositely disposed flanges or tongues 3 and 4 extending therefrom, and has an elongated widened portion fromwhich a tongue 5 extends. Diagonal slits or notches are cut in the flanges 3 and t to form the spurs or prongs 6, 7 8, 9,10,11,12 and 13, while a notch is also made in theflange 5 to form the spurs 14 and 15.

In forming the fastener shown in Fig. 2 from the blank form, the tongues 3, 4 and 5 are bent along the dotted. lines shown in Fig. 1, substantially at right angles from the body portion, while the spurs are bent inwardly from the tongues until the correspondingly opposite spurs on tongues 3 and 4,

As these rack-strips or partithe rack-stri p.

down prior to placement of the fastener in position but suiiicient spread is left to allow the spurs to pass over and down along the elements into which they are to be driven.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the customary bottle crate 16, having longitudinal rack-strips 17 and transverse raclcstrips 18 positioned within, which serve as partitions to separate the articles placed in the crate. The transverse rack-strips 18 fit into slots in the sides 19 and 20, and are slotted at intervals to provide for the longitudinal strips 17 which maintain the strips 18 in position. The strips 17 it into slots in the ends 21 and '22 of the crate, and are held therein by metal reinforcing bands 23 which fit in sunken portions so that the strip will be flush with surface of the crate. I

In order to additionally strengthen the crate and to prevent bulging, one or all of the transverse rac :-strips 18 are secured to the sides 19 and 20 by means of my fastener. The fastener may be applied to the joint, for on ample, by bending the flanges 3 and 1 over; the sides of the rack-stripand forcing the, spurs into the sides of the rack-strip, then the tongue 5 is bent over the side of the crate to draw it in close contact with the rack-strip 7 Likewise the. fastener may be applied in the opposite manner-,that is by first forcing the spurs 1 1 and 15 into the side of the crate and then bending the flanges 8 and 4 over the rack-strip. In the latter case the parts, are drawn into a closer engagement due to the shape of the spurs 6 and 10,.which, when forced into the rack-strip tend to move it into the joint. In addition it should be noted that the pairs of spurs 7 and 11; and 8 and 12 are so inclined as to draw the body portion downward there by making the fastener substantially flush with the surface of the joining members. Also a machine may be utilized to attach the fastener, one part of which would force the spurs 14 and 15 into the side, and another would close the flanges 3 and 4 over the rackstrip and then close in forcing the spurs into use of my fastener on a mortise and tenon joint, itshould be understood that it may be as readily utilized where: the members to be braced are merely in an abutting relation.

The structure shown provides a rigid crate, with no metallic projecting portions" either on the interior or exterior, that is admirably adapted to withstand the hard and rough usage" to which such an article is usual y subjected. i

What I claim is 1. As anewarticle of manufacture, a fastener for securing the adjace'nt edgesof two abuttin members standing at right angles to each ot" er, said'fastener being formed from a singlepiece of sheet metal, com rising a body portion, two flanges depend 'ng from opposite sides of said body portion adjacent an unobstructed edge thereof, a third flange spaced from the other flanges by an elon ated portion of the use and depending time from, said flangesliein'g notched inwardly of'their ed es'with the pointed portionsbeiit inwardly t ierefrom producing spurs adapt? edto be forced into'tli'eelements to be secured to ether, and to draw said member's intoclose y engaging aligned relation.

2. In c'ombination a crate bodypro vided with transyerse rack-strips positioned at right angles to'the body to form po'ckets,

' of a T shaped fastener struck from a piece of sheet metal 'com risingamain portion, tongues depending rom said main portion," two of the tongues bentdownwardly tocon form with the'sids of the rack-strip, a third tongue bent over the adjoining body element,

and spurs bn each tongue adapted to be irii pressed into said sides whereby the said rack-strip is drawn into closely engaging relationwith saidbody and is locked thereagainst. a a

spurs having their edges so inclined as to tend to move the same abutting member downward when the spurs are forced into the member, a third flange "spaced from the other fiangesbyan elongated portionof the body and depending therefrom, and spurs on said last named; flange.

4. As a new arti'cleof manufacture, a fastener for crate elements which "stand in abutting relation atri'ght angles to each other, comprising abody portiotih'aving two flanges turned downwardly from "opposite sides thereof at an unobstructed' 'edgel of the body," said flanges standing "in-parallelism and at right angles to the body, a third flange formed atthe end of andat'right angles to an extension of the body,- said latter flange lying in a plane at right angles to the other flanges, an prongs extending'inwardly from the lower edges of the flanges, said prongs being formed with inclined edges which act, whenthe same' are driven to place, as exert a drawingacti'on on the crate elements and bring the top'edgesofi said'elements into horizontal alignment.

5. A's'a new article'of'manufacture, a fas tener for crate elements which stand in abutting relatidn' at; right angles to teach other, comprisinga bddy liaving a relatively marrow section which m rges into" a wider portion of the bodyftw'tiflanges turned down wardly frombpposite sides'ofthe narrow body portion an adjacent an unobstructed edl'ge thereof, jsaidilang'es' standing in paral elism and at right anglemu the'bodyya third flange formed at the outer'ehd of the" wider section o'f the' bbdfportion and at right; angles thereto, said fiange likewise lying in a plane I at right? angles to the other flanges, andgirongs extending inwardly'from the 'lower'e' ges' of I the fianges, said prongs having incljnededges'for drawing the crate elementsinto closely ali ed relation] In testimony whereo I have signed my name to this specification? i JOSEPH TURNER; 

